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Systemic autoantibodies are important for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, but their roles in anti–methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis are unknown. The purpose of our study is to investigate the characteristics and a prognosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with the prevalence of autoantibodies.

To evaluate the effect of esketamine combined with ultrasound-guided pectoral nerve block type II (Pecs II block) on the quality of early postoperative recovery in patients undergoing a modified radical mastectomy (MRM) for breast cancer.

Although ganglion impar blockade has long been an effective procedure in the treatment of coccydynia, the pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the ganglion impar (GI) is a relatively new approach for the management of coccydynia. In the present study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate patients who underwent GI PRF due to coccydynia.

Acupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for patients with migraine without aura (MwoA), but only 41-59% of patients show improvement with this treatment. Screening positive responders to acupuncture treatment for MwoA can ensure that healthcare resources can be appropriately targeted to specific patients who would most benefit. The objective of this study is to determine whether the structure and functional activity in certain brain regions can predict analgesia response in patients with MwoA who receive acupuncture treatment.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), one of the most severe and debilitating chronic pain conditions, is often accompanied by mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a characteristic therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine with analgesic and anxiolytic effects. This study aimed to investigate whether EA ameliorates abnormal TN orofacial pain and anxiety-like behavior by altering synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus CA1.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over an acupoint (acu-TENS), a new technique applied in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, has been gradually used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of acu-TENS have not been fully evaluated. Therefore, this review was conducted to assess the effects of acu-TENS on COPD.

Congenital peritoneal encapsulation is a rare entity characterized by an accessory peritoneal membrane that forms during embryonic development. Congenital peritoneal encapsulation is generally asymptomatic but can cause intermittent, colicky abdominal pain related to subacute small bowel obstruction. Diagnosis is made incidentally or upon surgical exploration for chronic abdominal complaints as preoperative imaging is typically nonspecific. We report a case of a 49-year-old male with epigastric abdominal pain, constipation, and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis on imaging. Upon exploratory laparotomy, the small bowel was covered by an accessory peritoneal sac consistent with congenital peritoneal encapsulation. The accessory sac was excised completely, and the patient recovered well. Although rarely causing significant gastrointestinal symptoms, congenital peritoneal encapsulation is an anomaly that requires surgical intervention.

Gout is one of the most common inflammatory arthritis, where identification of MSU crystals in synovial fluid is a widely used diagnostic measure. Ultrasonography has a great sensitivity in detecting signs of MSU deposits, such as tophi and double contour (DC), as mentioned in the latest gout criteria, allowing early clinical diagnosis and therapy.

Although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) encourage coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in pregnant women, the scientific evidence supporting the use of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy is still limited.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent lipid mediator involved in the recruitment and activation of neutrophils, which is an important feature of tissue injury and inflammation. The biological effects of LTB4 are primarily mediated through the high-affinity LTB4 receptor, BLT1. Postoperative incisional pain is characterized by persistent acute pain at the site of tissue injury and is associated with local inflammation. Here, we compared the role of LTB4-BLT1 signaling in postoperative incisional pain between BLT1-knockout (BLT1KO) and wild-type (BLT1WT) mice. A planter incision model was developed, and mechanical pain hypersensitivity was determined using the von Frey test before and after incision. Local infiltration of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes was quantified by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokine levels in the incised tissue were also determined. Mechanical pain hypersensitivity was significantly reduced in BLT1KO mice compared to BLT1WT mice at 2, 3, and 4 days after incision. LTB4 levels in the tissue at the incision site peaked 3 hours after the incision. Infiltrated neutrophils peaked 1 day after the incision in both BLT1KO and BLT1WT mice. The accumulation of inflammatory monocytes increased 1-3 days after the incision and was significantly more reduced in BLT1KO mice than in BLT1WT mice. In BLT1KO mice, Interleukin-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α levels 1 day after the incision were significantly lower than those of BLT1WT mice. Our data suggest that LTB4 is produced and activates its receptor BLT1 in the very early phase of tissue injury, and that LTB4-BLT1 signaling exacerbates pain responses by promoting local infiltration of inflammatory monocytes and cytokine production. Thus, LTB4-BLT1 signaling is a potential target for therapeutic intervention of acute and persistent pain induced by tissue injury.